Cookies for Charity - Gabriella Cooperman's Annual Cookie and Lemonade Stand

Gabriella Cooperman’s Annual Lemonade Stand Supports Equestrian Connection

Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th

9 am to 9 pm Each Day

12-year old Gabriella Cooperman of Highland Park is determined to make a difference in the lives of others, and her annual lemonade stand is certainly helping her achieve her goal!

Since she was 5 years old, Gabriella has been selling lemonade and her mother’s home-made heath bar crunch chocolate chip cookies to raise money for Equestrian Connection, a barn located in Lake Forest offering therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults.

Near and dear to her heart, Equestrian Connection has helped Gabriella’s younger sister Danielle, who was born with low muscle tone and has other developmental delays. Before she started riding at the age of two, Danielle could barely speak or sit up straight. With Equestrian Connection and the horse’s help, Danielle finally learned to walk and talk at the age of four.

When Gabriella realized that other children needed this type of therapy, but couldn’t afford it, she decided she wanted to help. For the past 6 years, she’s set up shop at the top of her street, on the corner of Sheridan Road and Lakeside Place in Highland Park, selling cookies and lemonade to support the important work of Equestrian Connection.   

“In six years, I’ve  raised over $13,000,” said Gabriella proudly.  “Last year alone, I raised almost $6,000 which sponsored a little girl’s horseback riding therapy every week for an entire year. The money also helped pay for some of the horse’s expenses,” she adds.

This year, Gabriella’s goal is to raise $9600, which will not only cover a child’s therapy for the full year, but will also cover the horse’s expenses entirely. A true entrepreneur,
Gabriella has also secured several corporate sponsors who wanted to show support her efforts.

“I’m very excited about this year’s lemonade stand,” says Gabriella. “My mother is making 5,000 cookies and I’m ready to sell,” she adds.  “There will be a lot of people walking by my stand on their way to Ravinia and it’s also the same weekend as the Port Clinton Art Festival.  With directional signs around town sending people my way, I’m feeling really good about achieving my goal!”  

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